President Joe Biden is tapping former Republican Sen. Jeff Flake to serve as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Turkey.
"Given the strategic importance of the United States' relationship with our long-time NATO Ally, the Republic of Turkey, I am honored and humbled by the trust President Biden has placed in me with this ambassadorial nomination. This is a pivotal post at an important time for both of our countries. Cheryl and I are grateful for the opportunity to serve, and eager to get to know the extraordinary people of Turkey," Flake said in a post on Medium.
"With this nomination, the Biden Administration reaffirms the best tradition of American foreign policy and diplomacy: the credo that partisan politics should stop at the water's edge. U.S. foreign policy can and should be bipartisan. That is my belief as well, and my commitment," the former lawmaker said.
Flake served one term as U.S. senator, representing Arizona from 2013 to 2019. He had previously served six terms as a lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013.
Flake, who endorsed Biden for the White House, was one of the few outspoken Republicans who did not support former President Donald Trump.
In order to serve as the ambassador role, Flake will need to secure Senate confirmation.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have already issued statements backing Flake for the post.
"Congratulations to my friend Jeff Flake for his nomination to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. As a former member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he is very well suited to serve our nation in this critical role," tweeted Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota.
"Jeff and Cheryl Flake are dear friends and honorable people. They will represent the United States well in this critical role in an important time. President Biden shows wisdom in choosing them," Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah tweeted.
"In the six years we served together on SFRC, Sen. Flake & I traveled to more than a dozen countries, we legislated together repeatedly, & worked through dozens of hearings together. I am confident Jeff will serve our nation well & I look forward to supporting his nomination," tweeted Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.
Former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) confirmed reports on Monday that he's been contacted by the Biden administration about a potential ambassadorship appointment, but did not go into specifics.
Over the weekend, Axios reported that Biden administration officials were considering nominating Flake and possibly Cindy McCain, the widow of the late Sen. John McCain, to be ambassadors to signal that President Biden's foreign policy would be bipartisan.
Speaking on CNN, Flake confirmed that he's been in touch with the Biden administration but said no final decisions on his nomination have been made.
"All I've said is I would have an interest in making sure that President Biden's foreign policy is bipartisan. You know, we used to say that partisanship stops at the water's edge. That needs to happen and I think it can happen but there's been no specific talks," Flake said.
Pushed by CNN's Pamela Brown, Flake elaborated on what he meant by "no specific talks," adding, "I think they're aways from decisions."
"They still have half the Cabinet to get through the Senate. So, I certainly have an interest in making sure that our foreign policy is bipartisan, but we'll leave that to the Biden administration to make those decisions," Flake said.
"Okay, so it sounds though, more generally perhaps, you've been in touch with the administration, right?" Brown asked.
"Right," Flake confirmed.
Axios reported that Flake has been mentioned by Biden officials as a potential ambassador to South Africa or somewhere in Europe. McCain, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention and praised Biden, is reportedly under consideration as a potential ambassador to the United Kingdom.
President Biden stressed the importance of unity in his inaugural address, but so far has not appointed any Republicans to key positions in his administration. These nominations, if they happen, would be the most prominent Republican appointees in the Biden administration, but Flake and McCain are representative of only one faction of the Republican Party.
Both are prominent Never Trump voices who consistently opposed former President Donald Trump and his policies. Flake recently penned an op-ed writing that the Republicans in the U.S. Senate should have convicted Trump after the second impeachment trial and calling for the GOP to abandon loyalty to the former president.
"The vote to acquit [Trump] is the final act in the normalization of a President whose behavior was not normal, can never be acceptable, and culminated in a monstrous assault on American democracy," Flake wrote.
Flake told CNN that he's been pleased with Biden's foreign policy and national security appointments.
"I've been pleased with the names that have come forward so far, particularly on their national security and foreign policy team. They've got some real seasoned, experienced hands there, and that's great," Flake said.
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